The tradition

Once cured, Ahian forced the animal to speed up its pace; which was torture for Erin. She forced herself to keep silent. So, she remained in that position for what seemed like long hours. Completely exhausted, Erin let out a moan of protest. Her whole body hurt, even her soul hurt.

To Erin's surprise, Ahian slowed his pace to a gentle trot and lifted her so that she was once again straddling in front of him. She said nothing, much less protested, thanking the gods for the change in position. Next, the travelers continued advancing for another two hours before entering an area full of medium and thin trees, where they finally stopped. By then, Erin couldn't feel her legs or her butt.

Ahian descended first with an easy and elegant movement. Always under Erin's suspicious and contemptuous gaze.

She watched him with resentment and animosity as he grabbed her waist and helped her down. How could the wretch be at his ease after staying on that hellish animal for hours? She wondered.

She hated him.

Erin stayed where he left her: sitting on the tender grass that grew covering the entire land. He had walked away. Meanwhile, she was experiencing a hell of a cramp. It took several minutes before she began to feel her legs. However, feeling again was not a good thing because an unpleasant sensation began to run through her skin, her muscles, and even her bones. And she had to bite her tongue to keep from sobbing like a little girl.

Hence, Erin was trying to forget that she had limbs when a noise caught her attention. Then she saw with surprise that the beast began to eat the grass.

Wow... She just remained still in wonder. The animal had four long, strong limbs that ended in strange hooves. Now that she was looking at it from another perspective, and that, furthermore, she was sure that it was not going to feed on her, Erin saw it with new eyes. The creature was beautiful. It was white without a single spot and had short hair all over its body except for its nose. The immaculate fur became abundant and long on the neck and tail.

"It's a steed," Ahian said suddenly, taking a seat next to her. Well, Erin almost jumped off her skin. He had startled her. "This one belongs to a unique breed of great height. I exchanged it for a mountain of pearls, in a land far away." 

Despite herself, his words left her completely amazed and full of questions. Until seconds later, she too found herself marveling that he had the nerve to talk to her as if they were old acquaintances. As if he hadn't kidnapped her against her will, Gods! How worried would be her mother?

"You must let me go back," She said suddenly, earning an unfathomable look from him. "Our mother is going to go crazy… She…"

"She knows where you are." The man stated as he leaned and let himself fall on the green grass.

While trying to assimilate that information, Erin watched the strong chest rise and fall as the man breathed.

"¿What do you mean…?" She finally said, cursing inside her when she felt she was about to cry again. Her mother could not have consented to such a thing. No, that was impossible.

"This is the tradition. And Erin, you may be worried about your mother's well-being. But you should not. I left her a treasure worthy of a king." Ahian answered as if that was solely reasonable.

¿The tradition? What tradition? And ¿what did it matter to her?